Burnley Midfielder Buys A £5,000 Pint

McDonald, wondering who's getting the next round

Admit it; if you’re a Burnley fan, last weekend’s 6-1 d*ckstomping at home to Manchester City was enough to drive you to drink, assuming of course you weren’t already half-sunk at 10am anyway. The same was unfortunately true for Clarets midfielder Kevin McDonald, who couldn’t bear the torment after being subbed out at half-time.

Depending on which report you believe, he either left Turf Moor to have a pint with his dad down the street or he went to get drunk with his friends, but either way the club wasn’t amused, fining McDonald a week’s wages (£5,000) for his transgression.

All in all, a fair result, though one with more ominous implications for the final push to avoid relegation. Burnley sit in 19th, four points adrift from the pack having won just once in their last 22 EPL games. Manager Brian Laws has been trying desperately to instill some team unity despite difficult conditions, but McDonald’s second-half drink gives credence to rumors of dressing room unrest.

While McDonald was appropriately contrite — “It was a gross misjudgement and instead I should have remained at Turf Moor to support my club and team-mates. I also showed a serious lack of respect to all the fans who were at the ground and who pay to watch their team play.” — the Burnley fans have given him plenty of support. Chairman of the Colne Clarets fan club, Alan Beecroft, understands the midfielder’s plight: “I wish I had done the same thing.”

Ultimately, I applaud Mr. McDonald. If you already think you’re relegated, you might as well enjoy a pint or two on the way down, right?